The Pride Flag, an evolving LGBTQ symbol, rose over Roosevelt Island yesterday as speakers singled out the exceptional embrace of community support.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
How far we’ve come…
When my wife and I settled into our 40 River Road apartment, thirty years ago, our new best friends were a couple from Iowa. They relocated to Roosevelt Island as we did. We shared dinners and cats, but their marriage soon tumbled into disaster.
We’ll skip the details, but eventually, the underlying trouble became clear. He was gay. Hidden through years of heterosexual marriage and parenthood, it tore him apart inside.
As I watched the Pride Flag rise over Blackwell Circle, I thought of them and how those horrors are so much less likely now. LGBTQ is in if not wholly embraced. Being out isn’t the exception; it’s the rule, especially here on Roosevelt Island.
The Pride Flag Rising
Led by RIOC Deputy General Counsel Gerrald Ellis, speakers stepped up to the microphone with the flag ready to lift skyward behind them.
Some shared their personal stories, and some voiced their support.
Ben Fhala shared his story while choking back tears. His marriage to a man of color led to painful family rejection.
Others had a more humorous take. After sharing her story about acceptance within RIOC and the Public Safety Department, Inspector Estrella Suarez allowed that being gay was great but being straight was okay too.
A Rainbow of Pride: A Short History of the Pride Flag
The rainbow flag, a vibrant symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, has a surprisingly recent history. Here’s a quick look at its journey:
- Birth of a Symbol (1978): The rainbow flag was designed by artist Gilbert Baker in San Francisco for the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade. Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights activist and politician, encouraged Baker to create a symbol of pride for the community.
- Eight Stripes, Eight Meanings: The original flag had eight stripes, each with a specific meaning: hot pink (sex), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), turquoise (magic/art), indigo (harmony), and violet (spirit).
- Symbolic Shift: Due to production limitations, the hot pink and turquoise stripes were removed, resulting in the iconic six-color version we know today.
- A Beacon of Hope: The rainbow flag quickly gained popularity as a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride and solidarity. It became a visible representation of a community fighting for acceptance and equal rights.
- More Than Just Colors: The flag’s colors represent the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, but its significance goes beyond aesthetics. It’s a symbol of resilience, hope, and the ongoing fight for equality.
The Rainbow Lives On:
The rainbow flag remains a powerful symbol of LGBTQ+ pride around the world. Variations have emerged, incorporating colors to represent specific identities within the larger LGBTQ+ spectrum. However, the core message of the rainbow flag remains: a celebration of self-expression, love, and the fight for a more inclusive world.
From Roosevelt Island’s creative community, Penny Gold and Thom Heyer voiced their appreciation for the community’s acceptance.
For many of us, though, Inspector Suarez’s tale of how Chief Kevin Brown created a law enforcement group that made her feel comfortable was most affecting.
Suarez was funny and smart, and the affection glowed through.
And then, the Pride Flag slowly lifted about the heart of Roosevelt Island.
A Job With a Predictable Ending
The role looks stable from the outside. A President and CEO is appointed. A contract is approved. A salary is set.
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